<p>Easily distinguishable containers for day meds and night meds enabled a caregiver's 98-year-old mother to continue administering her own medications.</p>

A common dilemma for caregivers is how to provide the proper care for a patient, while maintaining the dignity and respect due both people. An example of this dilemma is revealed in the administration of medication.

An elderly patient, whose diminishing sight and dexterity interfere with him taking his medication properly, could very easily overdose on medications intended to help him. A battle can ensue between the patient who wants to have some control over his life and the caregiver whose main concern is health and safety for the patient.

A local caregiver relates the following story:

My 98-year-old great-aunt insisted on taking her own medicine. However, she did not have 1) the vision to read the name of the medications and the directions on the bottle, or to discern the difference in the pills, and 2) the dexterity or sensitivity to differentiate between holding one or two pills at a time. Add some dementia to this mix and you can see how concerned I was about my aunt taking her meds alone.

She gets easily overwhelmed with too much information, i.e., many pills in a weekly or monthly pill dispenser. This leads to confusion, which leads to unpleasant behavior.

She wanted the dignity of being able to take care of herself by herself, and I wanted health and safety. The attached photo reveals the solution that worked for us: They are little plastic containers that restaurants serve salad dressing in to go orders. They have clear tops that attach very easily.

The black one is for night medicine. (Get it? Darkness=night). The clear one is light, so that means day. Two simple choices, easily managed.

I set out her days dosage for her, one light container for the mornings meds, and the black one for the nights meds. She had sense enough to know when to take her meds. And vision enough to discern the colors. So she was able to take her meds without having to ask for help.

By giving my aunt the control of TAKING her meds, it kept her stress/confusion down. By the pills being set out by ME, it kept my stress down about her mis-taking (read overdosing) on her meds.

This practice has been helpful in keeping harmony in our relationship.

Other simple solutions are shared at the Wallowa County Caregivers meeting, which will meet again on Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. at Wallowa Memorial Hospital.

You are cordially invited to the first Caregivers Seminar scheduled for Jan. 15 at 3 p.m. at Point of Connection.